C1 – Luka Modric returns to PSG – Real Madrid: “I told Carvajal that we were going to kill them on the way back”

It was an almost irrational journey. Badly embarked in each of its double confrontations last season in the final phase of the Champions League, Real Madrid managed, each time, to come back from the bowels of hell. If Chelsea and Manchester City paid the price in the quarter and semi-finals, PSG suffered the same fate in the round of 16.

Winners in the first leg (1-0), Kylian Mbappé and his teammates were overthrown on the return (3-1) at the Santiago Bernabeu. An outcome obviously planned by Luka Modric. “On the way out, I remember that the coach had decided to replace mesaid the Madrid midfielder in an interview with Rio Ferdinandconsultant to our colleagues at BT Sport. I was sitting on the bench and, before PSG opened the scoring, I told (Dani) Carvajal, sitting next to me, that we were going to kill them on the return. I knew that at the Bernabeu we had to open the game more to show our attacking quality.”

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Confident in the strength of his team, Modric”knew that PSG would suffer“if Real”would play as he knew how“. “And that’s what happened, especially in the last 30 minutes of the second halfhe welcomes. In addition, our supporters played an important role. Sometimes they are very demanding when things don’t go our way. But there they were amazing, the stadium noise was different.”

For the Croatian international, the feeling of revenge for his people was great. “That’s why we celebrated so much (this victory, note), admits Modric. The critics said we were dead, that I had to retire, that (Toni) Kroos mightn’t play anymore, etc. You see? It was moving. We had something to prove because everyone said we were dead, done. How we won the Champions League is really hard to explain. Because in all the games everyone thought it was over for us (…) That’s why it was special.”

Holders of the title, Real Madrid faces Liverpool, this Tuesday evening, in the round of 16 of the Champions League. Karim Benzema and his band are now aiming for a fifteenth title in the competition.

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